Discover Nice: TOP 9 places to visit

The capital of the French Riviera, Nice La Belle (“Nice, the Beautiful”) has long been famous for the beauty of its old town, markets, beaches, and castle hill that offers a breathtaking view of the entire city.

Nice is a great city to explore on foot, as the main sights are very close to each other.

Visit the city of Nice

The second-largest city in Provence after Marseille, Nice is both chic and popular, festive and dynamic, and has a diverse and young population. A visit to Nice allows you to discover the historic, multicultural and gastronomic center of the Riviera.

On the program: stroll through the alleys of the old town, discover the bluest sea of the legendary Promenade des Anglais, taste the many local specialties, and admire the most beautiful views of the Bay of Angels. Take a look at what things to do in Nice if you will be there.

A day in Nice: what to do and see.

1.   Free guided tour of Nice and the old town.

Join Villa Hostels’ free city tour for an entertaining introduction to Nice and its history. Discover the hidden sites and monuments amidst the winding streets of the Old Town and learn more about the city’s history, known as well as secret facts. As you visit Massena Square, the Opera House, the Cours Saleya market, Castle Hill, and many other sites, you’ll get a feel for all that Nice has to offer.

A great way to meet other travelers from the hostel and a good introduction to the city itself. Ask at the hostel for more details.

2.   Promenade des Anglais

The “Promenade des Anglais” surrounds the entire beaches of Nice, from the old town to the airport. It is a beautiful walk around the bay and you can stop at any beach that suits you. The promenade is also lined with restaurants and cafes with terraces, enjoy the view with a coffee and a croissant. The best place to people watches as the promenade is a popular spot for joggers, cyclists, locals, and tourists.

Also visit the famous hotels along the promenade like the Negresco and the Palais de la Méditerranée, a 5-star luxury hotel in Art Deco style, that can be booked at https://karta.com.

3.   Castle hill, La Colline du Château

At the southern point of the city, at the end of the Promenade des Anglais and next to the harbor, there is a large hill overlooking the old town and the harbor, which was originally the site of the castle that protected the city. You can climb the hill via a staircase, a 5-10 minute climb that offers several viewpoints along the way. Alternatively, a free elevator will take you to the top.

The rocky hill once housed a fortified citadel, of which only some ruins can be seen today. It is a beautiful wooded park, perfect for a picnic with the most beautiful views of Nice, the Mediterranean Sea, and the harbor. At the highest point, there is a famous waterfall overlooking the city – a must for Instagram photos!

4.   The old town of Nice

Old Nice looks like a small village from the Middle Ages: a maze of cobblestone streets and wide-open town squares. Building facades run from pale yellow to ocher and red with colorful shutters that help bring life to the winding streets. Many of the buildings are centuries old. Stroll through the maze of narrow streets to find the best French products: Craft stores, small grocers, restaurants, and chic clothing stores, as well as countless cafes, ice cream parlors, wine bars, and souvenir stores.

After some shopping, look out for a famous ice cream parlor (Fenocchio) in Rossetti Square, a well-known town square with restaurants and cafes, and the Cathedral of Sainte Réparate, the patron saint of Nice.

5.   The Cours Saleya Vegetable & Flower Market

This pedestrian street is known for its lively food and flower market. Here you’ll find fruits and vegetables from the region, as well as prepared specialties like socca, pan bagnat, and pissaladière, and local products like olive oil, spices, olive paste, and anchovy paste.

The market is held every day except Mondays when an antique market occupies the entire square. We love the market for its dynamic atmosphere, bustling crowds, and discussions in French, English, Italian, and Nissart – the local dialect.

6.   La promenade du Paillon

The Promenade du Paillon also called Coulée Verte or green splash is a beautiful, new, central, 12-hectare park in the heart of Nice, separating the old town from the new town, on the route of the now underground Paillon River. It starts at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC), passes by Masséna Square, and ends at the Théatre de Verdure next to the Promenade des Anglais.

A park is a popular place for locals and tourists to relax and enjoy the greenery. There are many facilities for children, shaded areas, and green walkways, as well as a large fountain area that draws crowds in the summer. In winter, the Christmas market and the Ferris wheel decorate this area and provide beautiful views and photos.

7.   Matisse Museum

Easily accessible by bus and on foot in the beautiful Cimiez district, the Matisse Museum is located in a beautiful 17th-century Genoese villa in the heart of an olive grove, some of which are over 1000 years old. The museum is dedicated to the works of Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954), who lived in Nice from 1917 until he died in 1954, and is a must-see if you love art. On display are nearly 70 paintings, 200 drawings, engravings, sculptures, illustrated books, photographs, and personal objects of the artist.

8.   Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Classified as a historical monument, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral is located near the train station. Your visit will transport you to another era: that of the tsars in Moscow’s Red Square. St. Nicholas Cathedral is one of the most important Russian Orthodox buildings outside Russia. The interior is decorated with blue murals and iconography of the Orthodox religion.

9.   Villefranche sur Mer

Villefranche is a charming fishing village protected by a 16th-century fortress, located in a stunning little bay 15 minutes from Nice. It is the perfect place to relax at the end of the day, or for an early morning trip to the beach and a visit to the old town and market.

The beach overlooks one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, full of small fishing boats whose white arches contrast with the gold and red buildings of the city. On the promenade above the beach, you will find one of the best Pan Bagnat restaurants, a typical sandwich of this region, in the restaurant Nicette. The train station is next to the beach, you can also reach Villefranche by bus (bus line 81 at the end of Parc du Paillon).